A molecular and cytogenetic survey of major repeated DNA sequences in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Summary The major families of repeated DNA sequences in the genome of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) were isolated from a sheared DNA library. One thousand clones, representing one million base pairs, or 0.15% of the genome, were surveyed for repeated DNA sequences by hybridization to total nuclear DNA. Four major repeat classes were identified and characterized with respect to copy number, chromosomal localization by in situ hybridization, and evolution in the family Solanaceae. The most highly repeated sequence, with approximately 77000 copies, consists of a 162 bp tandemly repeated satellite DNA. This repeat is clustered at or near the telomeres of most chromosomes and also at the centromeres and interstitial sites of a few chromosomes. Another family of tandemly repeated sequences consists of the genes coding for the 45 S ribosomal RNA. The 9.1 kb repeating unit in L. esculentum was estimated to be present in approximately 2300 copies. The single locus, previously mapped using restriction fragment length polymorphisms, was shown by in situ hybridization as a very intense signal at the end of chromosome 2. The third family of repeated sequences was interspersed throughout nearly all chromosomes with an average of 133 kb between elements. The total copy number in the genome is approximately 4200. The fourth class consists of another interspersed repeat showing clustering at or near the centromeres in several chromosomes. This repeat had a copy number of approximately 2100. Sequences homologous to the 45 S ribosomal DNA showed cross-hybridization to DNA from all solanaceous species examined including potato, Datura, Petunia, tobacco and pepper. In contrast, with the exception of one class of interspersed repeats which is present in potato, all other repetitive sequences appear to be limited to the crossing-range of tomato. These results, along with those from a companion paper (Zamir and Tanksley 1988), indicate that tomato possesses few highly repetitive DNA sequences and those that do exist are evolving at a rate higher than most other genomic sequences.     

Development of simple sequence repeat DNA markers and their integration into a barley linkage map

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs), or microsatellites, are a new class of PCR-based DNA markers for genetic mapping. The objectives of the present study were to develop SSR markers for barley and to integrate them into an existing barley linkage map. DNA sequences containing SSRs were isolated from a barley genomic library and from public databases. It is estimated that the barley genome contains one (GA)_n repeat every 330 kb and one (CA)_n repeat every 620 kb. A total of 45 SSRs were identified and mapped to seven barley chromosomes using doubled-haploid lines and/or wheat-barley addition-line assays. Segregation analysis for 39 of these SSRs identified 40 loci. These 40 markers were placed on a barley linkage map with respect to 160 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and other markers. The results of this study demonstrate the value of SSRs as markers in genetic studies and breeding research in barley.     

The human THE-LTR(O) and MstII interspersed repeats are subfamilies of a single widely distributed highly variable repeat family.

Fifteen examples of the transposon-like human element (THE) LTR and thirteen examples of the MstII interspersed repeat are aligned to generate new consensus sequences for these human repetitive elements. The consensus sequences of these elements are very similar, indicating that they compose subfamilies of a single human interspersed repetitive sequence family. Members of this highly polymorphic repeat family have been mapped to at least 11 chromosomes. Seven examples of the THE internal sequence are also aligned to generate a new consensus sequence for this element. Estimates of the abundance of this repetitive sequence family, derived from both hybridization analysis and frequency of occurrence in GenBank, indicate that THE-LTR/MstII sequences are present every 100-3000 kb in human DNA. The widespread occurrence of members of this family makes them useful landmarks, like Alu, L1, and (GT)n repeats, for physical and genetic mapping of human DNA.     

Molecular mapping of rice chromosomes

Summary We report the construction of an RFLP genetic map of rice (Oryza sativa) chromosomes. The map is comprised of 135 loci corresponding to clones selected from a PstI genomic library. This molecular map covers 1,389 cM of the rice genome and exceeds the current classical maps by more than 20%. The map was generated from F₂ segregation data (50 individuals) from a cross between an indica and javanica rice cultivar. Primary trisomics were used to assign linkage groups to each of the 12 rice chromosomes. Seventy-eight percent of the clones assayed revealed RFLPs between the two parental cultivars, indicating that rice contains a significant amount of RFLP variation. Strong correlations between size of hybridizing restriction fragments and level of polymorphism indicate that a significant proportion of the RFLPs in rice are generated by insertions/delections. This conclusion is supported by the occurrence of null alleles for some clones (presumably created by insertion or deletion events). One clone, RG229, hybridized to sequences in both the indica and javanica genomes, which have apparently transposed since the divergence of the two cultivars from their last common ancestor, providing evidence for sequence movement in rice. As a by product of this mapping project, we have discovered that rice DNA is less C-methylated than tomato or maize DNA. Our results also suggest the notion that a large fraction of the rice genome (approximately 50%) is single copy.     

Alignment of molecular and classical linkage maps of rice,Oryza sativa

Application of genetic linkage maps in plant genetics and breeding can be greatly facilitated by integrating the available classical and molecular genetic linkage maps. In rice, Oryza sativa L., the classical linkage map includes about 300 genes which correspond to various important morphological, physiological, biochemical and agronomic characteristics. The molecular maps consist of more than 500 DNA markers which cover most of the genome within relatively short intervals. Little effort has been made to integrate these two genetic maps. In this paper we report preliminary results of an ongoing research project aimed at the complete integration and alignment of the two linkage maps of rice. Six different F₂ populations segregating for various phenotypic and RFLP markers were used and a total of 12 morphological and physiological markers (Table 1) were mapped onto our recently constructed molecular map. Six linkage groups (i.e., chr. 1, 3, 7, 9, 11 and 12) on our RFLP map were aligned with the corresponding linkage groups on the classical map, and the previous alignment for chromosome 6 was further confirmed by RFLP mapping of an additional physiological marker on this chromosome. Results from this study, combined with our previous results, indicate that, for most chromosomes in rice, the RFLP map encompasses the classical map. The usefulness of an integrated genetic linkage map for rice genetics and breeding is discussed.Abbreviations RFLP restriction fragment length polymorphism - chr chromosome - cM centiMorgan     

Development of microsatellite markers and characterization of simple sequence length polymorphism (SSLP) in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Microsatellite markers containing simple sequence repeats (SSR) are a valuable tool for genetic analysis. Our objective is to augment the existing RFLP map of rice with simple sequence length polymorphisms (SSLP). In this study, we describe 20 new microsatellite markers that have been assigned to positions along the rice chromosomes, characterized for their allelic diversity in cultivated and wild rice, and tested for amplification in distantly related species. Our results indicate that the genomic distribution of microsatellites in rice appears to be random, with no obvious bias for, or clustering in particular regions, that mapping results are identical in intersubspecific and interspecific populations, and that amplification in wild relatives ofOryza sativa is reliable in species most closely related to cultivated rice but becomes less successful as the genetic distance increases. Sequence analysis of SSLP alleles in three relatedindica varieties demonstrated the clustering of complex arrays of SSR motifs in a single 300-bp region with independent variation in each. Two microsatellite markers amplified multiple loci that were mapped onto independent rice chromosomes, suggesting the presence of duplicated regions within the rice genome. The availability of increasing numbers of mapped SSLP markers can be expected to increase the power and resolution of genome analysis in rice.     

Genetic mapping of tandemly repeated telomeric DNA sequences in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum).

A telomere-associated tandemly repeated DNA sequence of tomato, TGR I, has been used to map telomeres on the tomato RFLP linkage map. Mapping was performed by monitoring the segregation of entire arrays of TGR I from a segregating F2 population using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). With this strategy, four telomeres have been mapped to the ends of the short arm of chromosomes 9 and 12 and the long arms of chromosomes 5 and 11, using a saturated RFLP map of tomato containing approximately 1000 RFLP markers. In all four cases, the TGR I locus maps to the end of the chromosome, and the distance between the most distal single-copy RFLP marker and the telomeric TGR I locus was between 1.6 and 9.6 cM. This indicates that the region close to the telomeres does not show an excessive rate of recombination compared to other regions of the genome and that the RFLP map of tomato is essentially complete and covers the entire genome for all practical purposes. Additionally, the mapping technique presented here should be generally applicable to the mapping of other tandemly repeated DNA sequences.     

Quantification of total genomic DNA and selected repetitive sequences reveals concurrent changes in different DNA families in indica and japonica rice

This paper describes a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of three different repetitive sequence families, which were mapped to mitotic metaphase chromosomes and extended DNA fibers (EDFs) of the two subspecies of rice (Oryza sativa), indica and japonica (2n=2x=24). The repeat families studied were (1) the tandem repeat sequence A (TrsA), a functionally non-significant repeat; (2) the [TTTAGGG]_n telomere sequence, a non-transcribed, tandemly repeated but functionally significant repeat; and (3) the 5S ribosomal RNA (5S rDNA). FISH of the TrsA repeat to metaphase chromosomes of indica and japonica cultivars revealed clear signals at the distal ends of twelve and four chromosomes, respectively. As shown in a previous report, the 17S ribosomal RNA genes (17S rDNA) are located at the nucleolus organizers (NORs) on chromosomes 9 and 10 of the indica cultivar. However, the japonica rice lacked the rDNA signals on chromosome 10. The size of the 5S rDNA repeat block, which was mapped on the chromosome 11 of both cultivars, was 1.22 times larger in the indica than in the japonica genome. The telomeric repeat arrays at the distal ends of all chromosome arms were on average three times longer in the indica genome than in the japonica genome. Flow cytometric measurements revealed that the nuclear DNA content of indica rice is 9.7% higher than that of japonica rice. Our data suggest that different repetitive sequence families contribute significantly to the variation in genome size between indica and japonica rice, though to different extents. The increase or decrease in the copy number of several repetitive sequences examined here may indicate the existence of a directed change in genome size in rice. Possible reasons for this phenomenon of concurrent evolution of various repeat families are discussed. Received: 9 August 1999 / Accepted: 29 December 1999     

Sequence characterization,in silico mapping and cytosine methylation analysis of markers linked to apospory in Paspalum notatum

In previous studies we reported the identification of several AFLP, RAPD and RFLP molecular markers linked to apospory in Paspalum notatum. The objective of this work was to sequence these markers, obtain their flanking regions by chromosome walking and perform an in silico mapping analysis in rice and maize. The methylation status of two apospory-related sequences was also assessed using methylation-sensitive RFLP experiments. Fourteen molecular markers were analyzed and several protein-coding sequences were identified. Copy number estimates and RFLP linkage analysis showed that the sequence PnMAI3 displayed 2–4 copies per genome and linkage to apospory. Extension of this marker by chromosome walking revealed an additional protein-coding sequence mapping in silico in the apospory-syntenic regions of rice and maize. Approximately 5 kb corresponding to different markers were characterized through the global sequencing procedure. A more refined analysis based on sequence information indicated synteny with segments of chromosomes 2 and 12 of rice and chromosomes 3 and 5 of maize. Two loci associated with apomixis locus were tested in methylation-sensitive RFLP experiments using genomic DNA extracted from leaves. Although both target sequences were methylated no methylation polymorphisms associated with the mode of reproduction were detected.     

Characterization of a member of the highly repeated long interspersed rat DNA family with long open reading frames

A highly repetitive long interspersed sequence from rat DNA has been isolated and partly characterized. This sequence comprises at least a 1300 base-pair and a 2400 base-pair EcoRI fragment and probably additional elements. The 2400 base-pair segment has been analyzed in detail. It appears to be part of the chromosomal DNA in rat cells. The 2400 base-pair repeat is likely to be distributed over several regions in the rat genome. The 2400 base-pair segment has been cloned, mapped for restriction sites, and part of its nucleotide sequence has been determined. The 2400 base-pair sequence is a member of a typical highly repetitive long interspersed sequence with high copy number and restriction site polymorphism. There are sequence homologies to mouse and human DNA. A striking homology has been detected to the flanking sequences of a repetitive mouse DNA sequence that has been described to be located adjacent to one of the kappa-immunoglobulin variable genes. Elements in the 2400 base-pair rat repeat are transcribed in cells from most rat organs and from several continuous rat cell lines. This RNA from rat cell lines was found polyadenylated or not polyadenylated. The nucleotide sequence of parts of the 2400 base-pair DNA segment revealed open reading frames for polypeptide sequences. Such open reading frames have been detected in two different segments of the 2400 base-pair DNA repeat. Open reading frames exist in the two complementary strands in the same DNA segment. The hypothetical polypeptide whose sequence has been determined in toto has a length of 190 amino acid residues and is enriched in hydrophobic amino acids, reminiscent of the amino acid composition in membrane proteins. Hence, it is conceivable that the 2400 base-pair repeat sequence from rat DNA, at least in part, encodes messenger RNAs that might be translated into functional proteins.